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David Mills, writer for 'ER' series Died March 30, 2010

David Mills, a veteran television writer who worked on the award-winning series "ER" and "The Wire," has died. He was 48.

Mills died Tuesday night in New Orleans, said HBO spokesman Diego Aldana, declining to provide any other information.

Mills had been living in New Orleans while co-writing and acting as co-executive producer of the new HBO series "Treme." He wrote two of the upcoming episodes, which are being shot in the city. The drama is set to premiere April 11.

Wendell Pierce, who played Detective William "Bunk" Moreland on "The Wire," and plays a musician in "Treme," said Mills collapsed on the set Tuesday.

"He was carrying on a conversation and just fell over," Pierce said. "They called the medics, but there was nothing to be done."

HBO said in a statement that the network is "deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our dear friend and colleague."

"Treme" cast and crew members held a memorial for Mills on the set Wednesday morning, Pierce said.

"He was very quiet and introverted, but spoke volumes when he wrote," Pierce said of Mills.

Mills began his career as a reporter for the Washington Post, before turning to screenwriting. Besides "ER" and "The Wire," he worked on the HBO drama "The Corner" and "Homicide: Life on the Street," among other shows.

Mills started his television writing career with longtime friend and "Wire" creator David Simon in 1994. The pair wrote an episode of "Homicide" that year, for which they won a Writers Guild of America award.

Mills won Emmys for co-writing and executive producing the miniseries "The Corner" and an Edgar in 2007 for "The Wire."